Written Answers Thursday 17 June 2010

Scottish Executive

Antisocial Behaviour

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average timespan is between an application for an antisocial behaviour order being made and the court hearing taking place.

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average timespan is between an application for an interim antisocial behaviour order being made and the court hearing taking place.

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for antisocial behaviour orders were made in 2006-07, broken down by local authority area.

Fergus Ewing: The information requested is not held centrally.

Antisocial Behaviour

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in 2006-07, broken down by local authority area.

Fergus Ewing: Statistics on the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued to adults and under 16s between 1 October 2004 and 31 March 2008, by local authority area, can be found on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk .

Birds

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33201 by Richard Lochhead on 30 April 2010, whether the European territory referred to in Article 11 of the EU Directive on Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) refers to the territory of any member state, or the territory of the individual member state implementing the directive.

Roseanna Cunningham: Ultimately the interpretation of whether the European territory referred to in Article 11 of the EU Directive on Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) refers to the territory of any member state or the territory of the individual member state implementing the directive is a matter for the courts. In the absence of any court judgement, the Scottish Government would take a pragmatic view, based on the bird species in question and its potential for harm to the environment.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it is aware of regarding the contribution made to the Scottish economy by the shooting of pheasants and red-legged partridges.

Roseanna Cunningham: A report by PACEC in 2002 estimated that in Scotland there were 58,000 workers paid by the shooting industry, equivalent to 11,000 full-time jobs, and that the 1.5 million gun days in that year were worth £240 million to the Scottish economy.

Broadcasting

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it will have with the UK Government regarding regional television news.

Fiona Hyslop: I wrote to Jeremy Hunt, the new UK Government Secretary of State for Culture, the Olympics, Media and Sport, about broadcasting on 24 May. I have subsequently discussed broadcasting with Ed Vaizey, the UK Government Minister for Culture, on 7 June. On both occasions I emphasised the importance of maintaining a choice of Scottish news for viewers in Scotland. I also made it clear that I intend to engage with the UK Government on broadcasting issues as fully and constructively as possible over the coming months.

Central Heating

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Energy Assistance Package can better target those in rural communities.

Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package (EAP) is assisting the rural fuel poor by providing energy savings advice; offering income maximisation referrals to the Pensions Service and Citizens Advice Direct; offering referrals to electricity suppliers for checks on social tariffs or cheaper ways to pay; extending Stage 4 assistance to families as well as pensioner households; providing higher levels of Stage 4 grant for homes where it is most difficult to raise the energy performance rating; offering solid wall insulation as well as loft insulation; offering a variety of heating technologies in areas off the gas grid, including where appropriate, air source heat pumps.

  The area-based Home Insulation Scheme generates many referrals to the EAP that, for instance in the Western Isles, will see heating systems and improvements to the building fabric carried out under Stage 4 of EAP.

Freedom of Information

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether the Public Interest Disclosure Act (1998) adequately protects individuals who make disclosures of information in the public interest.

John Swinney: While this is a reserved matter for which Scottish Ministers do not have responsibility, in general terms the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 is considered to provide a robust framework which adequately protects individuals making disclosures in the public interest which fall within the terms of the legislation.

Further Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the future of Stow College is adversely affected by the development of the new Glasgow Metropolitan College.

Keith Brown: The activity which colleges are funded to deliver is the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council, not ministers. The key consideration in any funding decision is the interests of learners and the quality of the education they receive. The funding council has made clear that, should courses be transferred from Stow, it wishes to work with the college to plan an effective transition and to ensure that Stow College remains viable.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what preventive and intervention programmes are available to combat obesity in pre-school children, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.

International Relations

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been carried out in the last 12 months in improving the delivery of its China Plan.

Fiona Hyslop: The government is committed to strengthening its links with the People’s Republic of China.

  The China Plan is reviewed on a regular basis with the government’s delivery agents, other government bodies and key stakeholders to ensure that its objectives and targets are delivered by 2011.

International Relations

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representation it has made to the Israeli Government following the Israeli boarding of the flotilla delivering aid to Gaza.

Fiona Hyslop: The First Minister has written to the Israeli Ambassador in the strongest terms condemning the recent actions taken by the Israeli authorities and called on Israel to lift the blockade and allow humanitarian aid in to Gaza as a matter of urgency.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an appropriate assessment has been carried out regarding the marina developments in Inverness, Whiteness and Avoch, each of which are within the EU Habitats Directive designated bottlenose dolphin special area of conservation.

Stewart Stevenson: The marina developments at Inverness, Whiteness and Avoch were approved under separate applications, under various consenting procedures and on differing timescales.

  The development at Inverness Harbour was enabled by a Harbour Revision Order in 2005. An appropriate assessment was not completed as Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) advice indicated that the proposed development, subject to mitigation measures identified by SNH, was not likely to have a significant effect on the special area of conservation (SAC). The Scottish Government understands that the mitigation works have been carried out.

  A Harbour Revision Order was made in November 2008 to enable Whiteness Marina Company to carry out physical works to the harbour and operate as a Statutory Harbour Authority. An appropriate assessment of the Whiteness development was carried out in January 2010 as part of the planning application approval process which specifies the number of berths permitted.

  Avoch Harbour works were authorised by consent under Section 34 of the Coast Protection Act in August 2009. Advice from SNH relating to the increased number of berths proposed was that these would not have an adverse effect on the integrity of the SAC. This advice was used as our Appropriate Assessment prior to issuing the consent.

NHS Waiting Times

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is content that the New Ways waiting times system is working satisfactorily.

Nicola Sturgeon: The recent Audit Scotland report on Managing NHS waiting lists – A review of new arrangements published on 4 March stated that "New Ways has introduced significant changes to the way patients waits are managed, and NHSScotland has done well to implement the new arrangements".

  So yes, I do think the system is working satisfactorily, but we will continue to monitor it and make improvements, where necessary.

Public Sector

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many members of staff at (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Scottish Futures Trust and (c) Skills Development Scotland were awarded a car allowance in 2009-10.

John Swinney: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Futures Trust and Skills Development Scotland.

  I will ask the chief executive of each body to write to you with this information.

Public Sector

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Scottish Futures Trust and (c) Skills Development Scotland spent on car allowances in 2009-10.

John Swinney: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Futures Trust and Skills Development Scotland.

  I will ask the chief executive of each body to write to you with this information.

Public Sector

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many transport related fines each publicly funded body has settled on behalf of its staff and at what cost in each year since 2007.

John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to have Scotland covered by regulations on railway noise.

Stewart Stevenson: Recent railway construction projects in Scotland have voluntarily adopted the qualifying criteria and procedures contained within the Noise Insulation (Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems) Regulations (NIR’s), which came into force in England and Wales in 1996 under the Land Compensation Act 1973.

  The Scottish Government will assess, with UK colleagues, any consequential requirements for legal regulation if required, following the further adoption of the Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/EC).

Rail Network

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many passenger journeys were made on the Larkhall-Milngavie line in (a) 2009, (b) 2008 and (c) 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: The number of passenger journeys made on the Larkhall – Milngavie extension (i.e. the new stations on the Larkhall branch; Chatelherault, Merryton and Larkhall) in 2009-10 was 476,771; in 2008-09 474,882, and in 2007-08 429,246, based on tickets sold specifically for this line.

Rail Network

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many bridge strikes have been reported to rail bridges and what the cost has been of structural repairs to the affected bridges in each of the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: The information that we hold on this subject is limited to bridges on the Scottish trunk road network. Local authorities may hold information pertaining to their own areas for non-trunk roads. Network Rail, as owner of Britain’s main line rail infrastructure may also have more information on this.

  There is also some information available on the Rail Safety and Standards Board’s website that answers the question in part. This relates to total numbers of bridge strikes GB-wide and is in the public domain. For ease of reference we attach the relevant information below:

  This table gives number of bridge strikes in 2009 and in each of the preceding years at a GB Level. We have added the corresponding numbers for Scottish Trunk Roads as a comparator.

  Network Rail would need to be contacted for cost of repairs.

  

Year
GB Total Incidents
Scotland Trunk Roads


2005
1,619
20


2006
1,703
26


2007
1,564
20


2008
1,493
23


2009
1,148
12

Rail Network

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many bridge strikes to rail bridges in each of the last five years have been due to drivers following satellite navigation systems.

Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is not held by the Scottish Government. Further information may be held by the infrastructure owner Network Rail, the British Transport Police or the Rail Safety and Standards Board.

Rail Network

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to reduce the incidence of bridge strikes to rail bridges.

Stewart Stevenson: In respect of the Scottish trunk roads network we have been working closely with Network Rail to tackle the incidence of bridge strikes at road/rail interfaces across Scotland. Following completion of investigations instigated by our Operating Companies in early 2009, we have identified several sites where improvements to road lining, bridge markings, signing and lighting can be carried out to reduce the risk of overheight vehicles striking low rail bridges crossing the trunk road network.

  Works at several sites are already underway as part of a programme of improvements identified. The remainder are being programmed for completion within this financial year, subject to the availability of funding and the competing demands for improvements across the trunk road network.

  We are currently finalising details of our media strategy targeting the freight community. This will roll-out in July this year and will link with other Scottish Government Agencies, freight associations, private industry, etc. with the Transport minister’s approval.

  We do not hold any information on activities that local authorities might be carrying out to reduce the incidences of bridge strikes on non-trunk roads. This is a matter for the relevant authorities and Network Rail.

Rail Network

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been (a) injured or (b) killed while trespassing on railway property in (i) Fife and (ii) Scotland in each of the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: Injury and fatality statistics in each of the five years up to 2008 (the latest year that statistics have been published for) are listed in the following table. Trespass and Suicide statistics are listed together in the same category and it is only the fatality figures that have been disaggregated by local authority.

  Trespass and Suicide Statistics for Scotland and Fife*

  

 
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


Injuries (Scotland)
8
6
11
9
7


Fatalities (Scotland)
18
18
27
17
20


Fatalities (Fife)
0
1
3
1
2



  *Source – Scottish Transport Statistics.

Rail Services

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been prosecuted for (a) trespass or (b) vandalism on railway property in (i) Fife and (ii) Scotland in each of the last five years, broken down by those (A) under 16 and (B) 16 and over.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland does not hold this information.

  Railway Safety and Security has not been devolved to Scottish ministers and remain reserved to Westminster.

  British Transport Police are responsible for Policing Scotland’s railway and are responsible for the collation and recording of these statistics.

Rail Services

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what rail passenger numbers have been on the Fife circle line in each four-week period in each of the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: Over the last five years from April 2005 until March 2010 the numbers of rail passenger journeys, based on ticket sales, on the Fife Circle line in each four week period are:

  

Period
Year


2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


1
245,000
233,000
236,000
238,000
269,000


2
236,000
229,000
245,000
248,000
234,000


3
229,000
237,000
262,000
248,000
241,000


4
223,000
228,000
247,000
241,000
223,000


5
223,000
277,000
252,000
278,000
277,000


6
239,000
251,000
274,000
254,000
239,000


7
231,000
241,000
272,000
240,000
239,000


8
239,000
248,000
272,000
255,000
237,000


9
251,000
262,000
271,000
263,000
259,000


10
210,000
210,000
219,000
217,000
206,000


11
224,000
218,000
235,000
233,000
234,000


12
238,000
233,000
258,000
247,000
240,000


13
223,000
218,000
262,000
272,000
212,000



  The annual figures are:

  

2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


3,011,000
3,085,000
3,305,000
3,234,000
3,110,000

Roads

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that trunk road works, including land use development proposals that impact on trunk roads, give due consideration to the needs of cyclists.

Stewart Stevenson: We require special consideration to be given for cyclists in all new trunk road schemes and within improvements to existing trunk roads. The new Scottish Planning Policy also requires that the needs of cyclists and the promotion of sustainable modes of transport are fully considered in land use development proposals that impact on trunk roads.

Roads

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates that work will commence on improvements at the Haudagain roundabout in Aberdeen.

Stewart Stevenson: As I have made clear on a number of occasions we will start improvements to the Haudagain Roundabout on completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the 35 new schools announced on 2 June 2010 will be directly funded by the Scottish Futures Trust.

Keith Brown: We have been absolutely clear since we first announced the new school building programme a year ago that the Scottish Government will be directly funding the school building programme. The Scottish Futures Trust is co-ordinating, facilitating and managing the programme on our behalf, working alongside local authorities. The SFT will develop, recommend and implement approaches that will secure a better schools programme across Scotland, and better value for money than could be achieved through each authority working separately.

Scottish Futures Trust

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it expects to publish the annual accounts of the Scottish Futures Trust for 2009-10.

John Swinney: The annual report and accounts for the Scottish Futures Trust will be laid before the Scottish Parliament when they have been completed and audited, and in any case before the end of this year.

Scottish Futures Trust

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date ministers received a copy of the annual accounts of the Scottish Futures Trust for 2009-10.

John Swinney: Scottish ministers have not yet received a copy of the annual report and accounts of the Scottish Futures Trust for 2009-10.

Tourism

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many overnight visits to Scotland have been made by overseas residents in each year since 2001.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many overnight visits to Scotland have been made by residents of North America in each year since 2001.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many overnight visits to Scotland have been made by non-UK based residents of Europe in each year since 2001.

Jim Mather: The following tables provide information on total overnight visits to Scotland by overseas residents in each year since 2001, however as explained in the footnote, Scottish figures for 2005 onwards cannot be directly compared to earlier data.

  Visits to Scotland by Overseas Residents, 2001-04 (000)

  

 
2001
2002
2003
2004


North America
514
504
501
555


Europe
800
768
764
970


Rest of World
276
309
300
356


Total
1,589
1,581
1,565
1,881



  Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS), Prestwick not included as sampling point.

  Visits to Scotland by Overseas Residents, 2005-09 (000)

  

 
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009P


North America
525
636
541
456
455


Europe
1,502
1,667
1,900
1,720
1,716


Rest of World
365
429
350
315
386


Total
2,392
2,732
2,791
2,492
2,557



  Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS), Prestwick included as sampling point

  Notes:

  1. 2009 figures are provisional

  2. In 2005, the Office for National Statistics changed the methodology of the International Passenger Survey by adding Prestwick and Liverpool airports as survey sampling points. This did not change the total UK estimates, but had a significant effect on the Scottish figures. For this reason, Scottish figures for 2005 onwards cannot be directly compared to earlier data.